Anne Boleyn

(Oxford). Rationality was heralded as the answer to all problems and the path to a perfect society; while these views are considered extreme in today’s culture, reason is still viewed as mostly infallible. In The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman, the Merced doctors treating Lia were raised and educated in a Western culture that taught the superiority and successfulness of using logic to deduce problems, so when they are faced with the “irrational’…

Anne Hutchinson created her own interpretation of the Puritan teachings and didn’t conform to some of the beliefs, just as Hester created for herself the new meaning behind the scarlet letter. Anne also was tried in court and found guilty of heresy similar to how Hester was tried on the scaffold and found guilty of adultery. Anne did what she believed was right and was not afraid to tell the truth. Hester was not…

Pearl is “the scarlet letter, only capable of being loved, and so endowed with a millionfold the power of retribution…” (p64) As a symbol of her sin, Hester dresses up Pearl to look nice just like she does to the scarlet letter itself. This is Hester’s way of overcoming her tribulation, she is, nevertheless, constantly aware of her shortcomings… “Thou must gather thine own sunshine. I have none to give thee!” (p54) As time passes, Hester’s endurance and determination shines through. Many…

There are few people who would fail to recognize the name William Shakespeare. He was a well-known poet, playwright and actor in early English times. He is the author of many famous works that were and still remain extremely popular throughout the world. He is often considered the greatest playwright of the English language. In fact, he is frequently referred to as England’s national poet (History Staff, 2015). Although Shakespeare works are extremely popular, recorded information about the man…

How well is our brain able to focus and not let distractors get in the way? Through results of flanker tasks, it seems that our brain is not that good with ignoring distractors. This leads to a debate on whether top down processes are used in both targets and interfering distractors in flanker tasks or if bottom up processes are used. In a research article, titled “Top-Down Processes Override Bottom-up Interference in the Flanker Task” by Rotem Avital-Cohen and Yehoshua Tsal, it is clear that…

Isolation in the Scarlet Letter No.2 The Scarlet Letter tells the narrative of the adulterous Hester Prynne and the discipline she endures because of her Puritan community, a community committed to the purification of society. In Hester's community, the wrongdoing of one individual is thought to be the sin of each person. Because of this, the whole community is committed punishing the heathen, and simultaneously, cleansing themselves of the stain she brings. Hester is sentenced to wear always…

Piety, courage, and industry, were the Pilgrims’ most cherished values. They were thought such a necessity because of each values’ strong place in building a stable and prosperous community, as well as keeping a “morally” intact society, the “new Jerusalem.” But “paradise” is not to be gained without challenge and great effort against the “enemy of God” and they came in the form of hardship, privation, and fear. Bradford, Winthrop, Bradstreet, and Edwards wrote of these hardships that they and…

Sofka Skipwith is an extraordinary princess who saved many Jews. There is a lot about her life that is unknown to many people. Her life before the war was hard for her. During the war, it was still hard for her and everyone around her. Even after the war it was hard, but Sofka always found a way to make life easier. Sofka Skipwith was born in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1907. She was the daughter of Prince Peter Alexandrovich Dolgorouky of St. Petersburg of Russia. Sofka was one of the first…

RICKI BLANCKE foot note 55 Ricki grew up in the community of Nieuwlande, in the Province of Drenther. She was a small child during the war, but she was told that a few neighbours were shot by the Nazis because they harboured Jews, or they had joined the underground resistance movement. Many city people come to their farm looking for food. The German soldiers constantly came around to search the farms and homes in their community. Her uncle was involved with a resistance group.…

The Story of Seduction, Sex, and Sin In D.H. Lawrence’s critical essay on Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter, he argues that Hester Prynne is flat and static: a lustful sinner whose only desire is to destroy the lives of the purest men. The young Puritan colonist is known for her sexual affairs with the revered Reverend Dimmesdale and giving birth to his child. Hester Prynne’s impurity is best depicted through Lawrence’s use of sarcastic diction, satirical tone, and biblical…